Saturday, June 20, 2009

For some reason, I have been thinking of an area of France for the last several days. It lies in the NW corner of France, between Brittany and Normandy. It is called Mont Saint-Michel. If you have not seen it, please put this on your "Bucket List" as one of the most breathtaking and unbelievable "rocks" to see.

Mont Saint-Michel was a 250 foot high rock with sheer sides. It is made of granite and for thousands of years has resisted erosion from wind and water. In the 8th century Bishop Aubert dedicated this rock to Saint Michael. Ever since then, it has been an island. Through the years, an abbey was built, a town and other than tourist shops, it remains as it has always been.

Now here is the amazing part. The tide in the bay where it stands, is among the strongest in the world. The difference in depth of water between low and high tide in the same place is around forty feet. The beaches are almost completely flat. The sea has to come in many miles in just a few hours before reaching high water mark, and it comes in at an amazing speed and can be quite dangerous for people fishing or walking on the beach. Visits to the island are timed with the tide.

I think often of the drive as we neared it. Way off in the distance we could see the top of the abbey steeple. As we got closer it became more and more amazing.

Normandy is definitely on our list. We wanted to go there when we were in France two years ago but never made it for some reason - perhaps because we were down south at the other end of France. Now I know we won't miss it next time.Sam